Nikola Matawalu grabbed the Glasgow try

At the start of a critical period for Glasgow's hopes of finishing in the league's top four and qualifying for the play-offs, the Warriors were tested by their Welsh opponents despite their domination of possession and territory.

By contrast the result was a blow for the visitors, who were coming off a run of three wins in four starts that had awakened their own hopes of a top-four place.

Glasgow, who led 11-3 at the break, scored the only try of the night in the 31st minute, when livewire winger Nikola Matawalu crossed, with Duncan Weir adding three penalties.

Scarlets had little possession to engineer much in the way of attacks but defended securely with their points coming from a brace of Olly Barkley penalties.

Glasgow dominated possession from the start and when referee Alain Rolland detected a high tackle on centre Alex Dunbar in the eighth minute, stand-off Weir opened the scoring.

Glasgow made nothing of further possession particularly when they chose to put a penalty into touch on the visitors' line but midway through the half, Scarlets were penalised for off-side, and Weir kicked the simple penalty.

Six minutes later, veteran hooker Doug Hall's throw was not straight on the first time Scarlets produced a position close to the Glasgow line.

Glasgow were then penalised at the subsequent scrum and Barkley opened the visitors' account.

Glasgow returned to the attack, helped by Rolland continuing to penalise Scarlets at the tackle, and Matawalu touched down.

Again, Glasgow had turned down a chance to kick for the posts, and the subsequent line out drive had sent Rolland to the television match official.

The verdict was no try, but from the subsequent scrum, Matawalu, who despite being listed as a winger was popping up all along the back line, took the pass from scrum-half Chris Cusiter at pace and cut through to score from 10 metres.

Weir's conversion attempt slipped wide, so Glasgow went in at half-time deservedly leading 11-3.

Within the first 10 minutes of the restart Weir and Barkley had exchanged penalties.

Soon after Scarlets had replaced their complete front row, their scrum was penalised but Glasgow's substitute centre Mark Bennett failed with the long-range penalty attempt.

As the final quarter began, Glasgow produced a prolonged period of scintillating passing and off-loading.

However, Scarlets stoutly rebuffed the siege of their line which ended with Glasgow penalised at a close-in scrum.

Glasgow continued to press in the closing stages and Scarlets were in debt to right winger Kristian Phillips who got back to deal with a dangerous kick to his line.

With three minutes left on the clock, Scarlets had the chance to claim a bonus point but Aled Thomas' penalty went wide.